Homeowner permit guides
Do I need a permit for that?
Decks, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, roofs, and additions, answered county by county. Each guide links to the official county pages.
Virginia
Fairfax County, VA
Decks, finished basements, and bath and kitchen remodels need a permit. Same-opening windows, re-siding, and new shingles usually don’t. Vienna and Clifton add a town step.
Loudoun County, VA
Every deck needs building and zoning permits. Basements and additions do too. Inside the seven towns, town zoning comes first.
Arlington County, VA
Additions, decks, and most alterations need a permit through Permit Arlington. Same-spot fixture swaps and most roof covering replacements don’t.
Fauquier County, VA
Read the Fauquier County remodel permit guide.
Prince William County, VA
Read the Prince William County remodel permit guide.
Frederick County and Winchester, VA
Compare Frederick County and Winchester permit questions, then confirm the office for your address.
Clarke County, VA
Review Clarke County permit questions and ask about Berryville or Boyce requirements.
City of Alexandria, VA
See Alexandria permit guidance for common remodel work and city plan review.
Falls Church and City of Fairfax, VA
Find the right city permit office for Falls Church or Fairfax City work.
Manassas and Manassas Park, VA
Compare City of Manassas and Manassas Park permit rules by parcel.
Maryland
Montgomery County, MD
Decks, fences, sheds, and basement alterations need a DPS permit. Roof covering, siding, and window swaps that keep the same opening usually don’t. Plumbing goes through WSSC Water.
Howard County, MD
Nearly every deck needs a permit, and so do basement finishes and additions. Small sheds and deck-board swaps don’t. One county office covers Ellicott City and Columbia.
Frederick County, MD
Decks need a permit even for a same-size replacement. Cosmetic work doesn’t. The City of Frederick and Mount Airy run their own permits.
Washington County, MD
Read the Washington County remodel permit guide.
Anne Arundel County and Annapolis, MD
Compare Anne Arundel County and Annapolis permit guidance by address.
Carroll County, MD
Review Carroll County residential permit steps and municipal address checks.
These guides summarize official county and city pages; they are not legal advice, and the permit office for your parcel has the final word. When we build your project, we pull the permits and schedule the inspections.